Playbill: September isn't even over yet, and the fall is already abuzz with new shows in performances, shows beginning rehearsals, or other shows selling out before they begin performances. While it's fairly straightforward to see which shows are coming to Broadway (which you can find here), it's a little more complicated for New York City's Off- and Off-Off Broadway scene.
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As someone who does not live in New York, I find that I hear so much about the plays and musicals on Broadway, but very little about shows not on Broadway. There is so much great work and innovative theatre being made Off- and Off-Off-Broadway that does not get much attention, but some of the most fun shows I’ve seen were Off-Broadway. I also like how this author focuses in on shows that don’t usually get highlighted by omitting shows that are heavily celebrity based. All of the eleven shows detailed seem so cool and I would love to see them. The description of "The Blood Quilt" especially attracted me because my grandmother quilts and I have learned to sew from her and my mother. If I find my way to New York in the near future, I will definitely be checking out some of these Off- and Off-Off-Broadway shows.
I find the diverse range of genres and storytelling very compelling. Each show is promising a unique perspective on modern life and historical events. Personally, I'm intrigued by Good Bones, given the buzz around James Ijames after Fat Ham, which I saw one version in City Theatre last year in Pittsburgh. Also, the musical Magnificent Bird/Book of Travelers also stands out to me for its potential to combine storytelling with music in a deeply personal and introspective way, and I love the idea of connecting the content of a piece to our own daily lives like reminding us to touch grass. It’s also exciting to see how many different theatrical spaces are being used, from barges in Brooklyn to downtown avant-garde venues like Soho Rep. It highlights how dynamic the NYC theater scene is, even beyond the glitz of Broadway. These productions seem to show the adventurous spirit that is often found Off-Broadway, making the fall an exciting time to be a theater lover like me.
It is important for people interested in theatre and are visiting New York to know about all of the variety of shows that they could see. While tourists and fans tend to run straight towards the big Broadway shows like Wicked or Hamilton, they are missing so many other small and great quality and substance shows Off-Broadway. I really enjoyed reading this article to inform me of the new and emerging works Off-Broadway. The range of genres and themes were also amazing to see. It really seems like there is a show for every single type of audience member, no matter their background or beliefs. I really like that this article is coming from Playbill, where many people go for their Broadway news. Having Off-Broadway and other starting or smaller productions on this site is amazing exposure and are vital to growing and expanding the world of theatre.
-Ava Basso
With fall just starting, it’s exciting to see so many intriguing off- and off-BBroadway shows popping up on the scene. Obviously, I love theater, which is why I'm attending school for it; however, I have never really been one to chase big Broadway names or very popular shows. I honestly love just being able to sit down and watch these smaller productions regardless of the quality. I actually got coffee with the Production Stage Manager of Titanique, and honestly, it was such a great experience to have. I got so much insight into what this industry is like, especially in an off-Broadway space, and I can't wait to see the house again because it gets better very time.
I’m also really interested in Good Bones at the Public Theater. James James' ability to blend humor with deeper social commentary, especially around gentrification, makes it seem like it’ll stick with me long after the final curtain, and it will eventually hopefully get into bigger spaces and gain more traction. This season feels packed with fresh voices (even some people from Carnegie) and unique concepts that I can’t wait to experience.
As someone who is relatively new to the theatre industry as a whole, I am not aware of many on or off broadway productions. None of the ones on this list were familiar to me, but upon reading the descriptions, they sounded like shows I would like to see. The Blood Quilt caught my attention immediately because of the similarities between the family in the story and my family, and the act of piecing the quilt together. I also was drawn to Bad Kreyol, because of the recent misinformation against Haitian immigrants. But Magnificent Bird/Book of Travelers seemed the most attractive to me, because the image and description felt like an escape from reality and the day to day expectations of adult life. A long train journey sounds like the perfect vacation, and watching this show would be an amazing and relaxing experience.
Overall, I think more people would be more inclined to see on and off broadway productions if they knew what they were about. I hope that in the future the information on this list reaches more people.
With so many incredibly talented people on Broadway, there is also an insane amount of talent off-broadway. It is really refreshing and cool to see all of these new shows opening soon off-broadway, and seeing all the talent on stage, off stage, and back stage. I mean, having Margot Robbie as one of your producers seems super cool and fun. One of the shows mentioned was, We Are Your Robots (Theatre for a New Audience and Rattlestick Theater), and the women who directed Suffs is also directing this new show. Leigh Silverman is the director, who also happens to be an alumni of the one and only Carnegie Mellon School of Drama!! Turn Tartan!! Having seen her work on Suffs before, I am definitely going to take a look at We Are Your Robots. All of these production photos look super cool and when I am back in New Jersey, I am definitely going to try and see some of these shows.
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